Teen fiction from a teen author

Wednesday

Apr 9, 2014 at 6:16 AMApr 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM

I met Alexandra Paulk at last year’s International Christian Retail Show where she — like other authors — were introducing their books. The difference? Her age. She wrote Cross Blades: The Purity Prophecy when she was 15. I’ve invited her to share her story here as part of our three-day look at teen literature. […]

I met Alexandra Paulk at last year’s International Christian Retail Show where she — like other authors — were introducing their books. The difference? Her age. She wrote Cross Blades: The Purity Prophecy when she was 15. I’ve invited her to share her story here as part of our three-day look at teen literature. I think you’ll be as impressed with her as I am…

I donít see myself as a teen who purposefully writes for teens. I see myself as a person who has a story to tell and I happen to be a teenager. Readers who most enjoy my books at this point are teens and preteens, but I didnít set out to capture a teen-only audience.

At writing conferences Iíve learned that the most believable stories are written from experience. At this point, my experience is based on 17 years of living. So, basically, I think that I write from that perspective.

Alexandra Paulk

However, adults who have read Cross Blades: The Purity Prophecy are astounded that it was written when I was 15. They seem to think that the plot and characters were developed from a much more mature mindset.

I write fiction for morally discerning, intelligent teens: kids who like fast-paced out-of-galaxy stories, characters with depth and genuine personalities, and dialogue that challenges a teenís vocabulary. I donít believe in dumbing down dialogue to OMG and LOL. Furthermore, profanity, sexual situations and drugged-up party scenes can muddy up a good story, so I donít include any of these in my own writing. That kind of stereotypical teen behavior is offensive to me.

I strongly believe that teen fiction authors have an opportunity to offer more than an entertaining escape. Within the pages of an action-packed adventure, authors can create exciting characters who approach and solve problems from a perspective of moral and social responsibility. On the other hand, I donít like teen fiction that is ďchurchyĒ or excessively Christianized either. So far, I havenít written a story where any characterís salvation experience moves the storyline forward.

Some of the characters in my writings have accepted Christ in their backstory, and they make Christ-honoring decisions that turn the plot. But, the characterís salvation story is not revealed.

For me, writing a book is like a fantasy vacation that I can take with characters who have become so real, they are like living, breathing friends. I like them; I worry about them; their lives are in my hands. I donít want bad things to happen to them but they must endure trials in order to grow. Just like God knows the plans He has for us, I know the plans I have for my characters. For the bad guy, judgment will come. For the good guys, reward†shall rain down upon them — eventually. Maybe not in a first book, but later in the next installment, or the next.

Being a teen author has been an adventure in the process. Iím an introvert and it has been a learning curve to get comfortable with other teens coming up to me at a book signing or even in the hallway at school, asking me to sign a copy of Cross Blades. I donít mind it, but for me, it is more fun to get beyond the ďIím-the-authorĒ barrier, and simply talk with them about Capo, Hermano, Leonarda, or another of their favorite characters. Even my friends are always asking what is going to happen to one of the characters in the sequel. It is fun to hear ideas about what they believe would be justice for one of the bad guys. I love writing. I hope I still love it when Iím a hundred years old and writing for my fellow friends in the nursing home.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.